Balance-detector.



E. JOHNSN.

BALANCE DETECTOR.

` APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1912.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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fr anastacia a EMERY JOHNSON, OF NEWBERG, OREGON.

BALANCE-DETECTOR.

inerme.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application led August 27, 1912. Serial No. 717,360.

' To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EMERY JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Newberg, in the county'of Yamhill and State ofOregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Balance-Detectors,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in balance detectors and hasparticular application to a device of the character set forth which isparticularly adapted for determining the heavy and light portions of arevolving mass, such, for example, as the armatures of dynamos andmotors and the rotating parts of engines, metal and wood workingmachines and the like.

It is a well known fact that a well balanced body loosely held upon itsaxis will take its own course when revolving or rotating rapidly eventhough the axis thereof is unsteady and vibrates, while if unbalancedsuch body proceeds in a circuitous path, that is, planet fashion.

Therefore, in carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose toprovide a balance detector whereby the heavy and light portions of arotatino` mass may be readily determined so that the unbalanced portionthereof may be remedied to bring about the even and uniform revolving ofthe mass.

It is also my purpose to provide a balance detector which will embracein its construc tion, among other features, means movable with anunbalanced body or mass, an indicator carried thereby, and means movablewith the first-mentioned means and supported upon its axis in suchmanner as to be free to seek its own axis independently of the axis ofthe first-mentioned means and which will have control of the indicatorthereby enabling the defective portion of the rotating mass to beaccurately and readily determined.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthin and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of abalance detector constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectionalview of a part of the device, and Fig. 5 is a modified form of bearingmember for the detector.

In carrying my invention into practice, the various parts of the balancedetector are to be made of light material, such material, being, ofcourse, consistent with strength and durability, so that the device maybe easily and conveniently handled and applied to the mass to be tested.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the means ormechanism movable with the unbalanced body or mass embodies, in thepresent instance, a casing or housing 1 having a relatively large openend 2 rabbeted as at 3, and a circumferentially reduced flanged end 4with which latter is integrally formed, a hollow shank 5 coaxial withthe longitudinal axis of the housing or casing. Seated in the rabbetedportion 3 of the relatively large end of the housing and closing suchend and suitably fastened therein is a head 6 formed with a centrallydisposed socket 7 designed to receive a bearing member 8, the latter, inthis instance, having a pointed end 9 designed to engage the center ofthe rotating or revolving mass to be tested. Rigidly secured, in anyappropriate manner, within the free end of the hollow shank 5 is a block10 provided with an outwardly projecting sleeve l1 communicating with abore 12 formed in the block 10. Loosely encircling the sleeve 11 is ahandle or knob 13 in which is fastened a centraly bearing bushing 14encircling the sleeve and held on such sleeve against longitudinalmovement thereon by means of a cap 15 fitting over the free end of thesleeve 11 and abutting the bushing 111 of the knob, any suitable form ofrigid connection being established between the cap and the adjacent endof the sleeve.

The means, movable with the means or mechanism just described,comprises, in this embodiment of my invention, a balance disk 16disposed within the housing l adjacent to the head G thereof and formedwith a number of peripheral pockets 17 suitably spaced apart, and acentral recess 18 communicating with a relatively small center opening19 having rounded walls 20 and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of thehousing or casing. Seated in each pocket 17 and suitably fastenedtherein is one end of a spring 21 having the opposite extremitiesthereof coiled about a pin 22 and suitably fastened thereto, the pinsbeing carried by the adjacent wall of the casing or housing 1. Thesesprings 21 form a universal joint or connection between the balance diskand the housing so that the disk may seek its own axis irrespective ofthe axis of the housing, when the detector is applied to the mass orbody to be tested. It is to be understood, however, that the springs 21may be eliminated and any suitable form of universal joint employed tohold the balance disk loosely upon its axis.

Mounted within the housing 1 and movable therein is a resetting andindicator actuating device which, in the present instance, consists of adisk 23 seated against the flanged end 4 of the housing and equipped atits periphery with a plurality of right angularly projecting lingers 24suitably spaced apart around the periphery of the disk and extendinginto the housing 1 and terminating adjacent to the respective face ofthe balance disk. Passed centrally through the cap 15, the sleeve 11 andthe bore in the block 10, is a stem 25 having one end rigidly secured tothe center of the disk 23, as at 26, while the opposite end thereofextends outwardly of the cap 15 and has revolubly mounted thereon amanipulating member 27 whereby the stem, and consequently the disk 23and the ngers 24 may be moved inwardly of the housing, when such isdesired. Any suitable means may be employed to hold the disk 23 againstthe flanged end of the housing. In this instance, a retractile spring 28encircles the stem 25 within the hollow shank 5 and has one end fastenedto the block 10 as at 29 and the opposite end secured to the disk 23 asat 30, such spring no`rmally acting to hold the disk 23 seated againstthe flanged end of the housing, and the manipulating disk projectedoutwardly.

The indicator herein shown consists of a dial 31 supported by thefingers and having the marginal edge thereof abutting stop lugs 32formed on the lingers, such lugs serving to limit the movement of thedial in one direction relatively to the fingers, leaf springs 33 beingdisposed between the disk 23 and the adjacent surface ofthe dial andacting to hold the dial against the stop lugs. The pointer of theindicator is indicated at 34 and has one end passed through the centeropening 19 in the balance disk and formed with a ball 35 looselydisposed within a socket 36 formed centrally of the adjacent face of thehead 6 and coaxial with the bearing 8.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing myinvention will be readily apparent. When it is desired to test arevolving mass or body to detect the heavy and light portions thereof soas to determine whether or not the same is balanced, the balancedetector is grasped by an operator at the knob 13 and the point 9 of thebearing 8 engaged with the shaft or the center of the rotating mass sothat the detector may rotate with such mass. Should the mass beunbalanced a circuitous or planetary movement will be imparted to thehousing 1 whereby such housing and the various devices carried therebywill be caused to vibrate. The balance disk 1G, however, will seek itsown axis independently of the circuitous movement of the housing and,when so doing, carries the pointer 34 at an angle to the longitudinalcenter line of the housing. lVith the parts in this position, themanipulating disk 27 is pushed inwardly of the device with the effect tomove the dial 31 against the adjacent end of the pointer 34, therebyholding the pointer on the dial. Upon the dial contacting with thepointer, the same remains stationary while the fingers 24 move forwardlyincident to the yieldable connections between the disk 23 and the dial,and engage the balance disk 16 thereby holding the same stationary.Subsequent to this o-peration of the balance detector, the revolvingmass is brought to a standstill, and the position of the mass inalinement with the pointer will be found to be lighter than that part ofthe mass opposite, thereby enabling the defective portion of the massbeing tested to be remedied. Suitable sight openings 37 are formed inthe housing 1 so that the position of the pointer with respect to thedial may be readily and conveniently seen.

In some instances,:y it may be found impractical or inconvenient tolocate the exact center of a shaft si pporting a revolving mass. lhensuch circumstances arise, use is made of the bearing illustrated in Fig.5, wherein the bearing is composed of a plug 38 adapted to be insertedin the socket 7 of the head 6, and a plurality of outwardly divergingfingers 39 adapted to embrace the marginal edge of the end of the shaft.

It will be seen that I have provided a balance detector which embracesmeans movable with an unbalanced body, an indicator carried by suchmeans, and means movable with the first means and capable of finding itsown axis irrespective of the axis of the first means and having controlof the indicator whereby the heavy and light portions of the mass to betested may be readily, conveniently and accurately determined.

While I have herein sho-wn and described one preferred form of myinvention by way of illustration, I desire it to be understood that I donot limit myself to the precise details of construction herein describedand may be made within the scope of the claims and without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A balance detector comprising means adapted to be rotated by anunbalanced revolving body, an indicator carried by said means, and meansactuated by and movable with the lirst means and adapted to assume itsown axis of revolution and controlling said indicator.

2. A balance detector comprising means adapted to be rotated by anunbalanced revolving body, an indicator carried by said means andincluding relatively movable elements, means actuated by and movablewith the rst means and adapted to assume its own axis independently ofthe axis of the iirst means and controlling one element of theindicator, and means operable manually to move the other element of theindicator whereby the defective portion of the mass being tested may bedetermined.

3. A balance detector comprising means adapted to be rotated by anunbalanced revolving body, an indicator carried by said means andincluding relatively movable elements, means actuated by and movable.with the rst means and adapted to assume its own axis independently ofthat of the first means and controlling one element of the indicator,and means controlling the remaining element of the indicator and thesecondnamed means whereby the defective portion of the mass being testedmay be determined.

fl. A balance detector comprising a housing adapted to be rotated by anunbalanced revolving body, a bearing member for the longitudinal axis ofthe housing and adapted to axially aline the housing with the body to bebalanced, an indicator within the housing and including relativelymovable elements, means within the housing and actuated by and movabletherewith and adapted to assume its own axis and controlling one elementof said indicator, and means oper'- able manually to move the remainingelement of the indicator and engage the lastnamed means whereby thedefective portion of the body being tested may be determined.

5. A balance detector comprising a housing adapted to be moved by anunbalanced revolving body, a bearing member for the longitudinal axis ofthe housing` adapted to axially aline the housing with the body to bebalanced, an indicator within the housing and including relativelymovable elements, means within the housing and actuated by and movabletherewith and adapted to assume its own axis and controlling one elementof said indicator, means operable manually to move the remaining elementof the indicator and engage the last-named means whereby the defectiveportion of the body being tested may be determined, and a knob forholding said detector against the body being tested.

6. A balance detector comprising a housing adapted to be rotated by anunbalanced revolving body, a bearing member for the longitudinal axis ofthe housing and adapted to axially aline the housing with the body to bebalanced, an indicator within the hous ing, a balance disk .within thehousing and movable therewith and adapted to seek its own axisindependently of the housing and controlling said indicator, anduniversal connections between said balance disk and housing.

7. A balance detector comprising means adapted'to be rotated by anunbalanced revolving body, and means actuated by and movable with therst means and adapted to assume its own axis of revolution, whereby theunbalanced portions of said body may be determined.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMERY JOHNSON.

Titnesses A. C. STANBROUGH, L. F. HALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

